Dirty Taco + Tequila Port Washington — Restaurant in Town of North Hempstead

I've had the absolute worst experience at a restaurant ever in my life at this place. I have never even written a review before but I have had such a bad experience that I had to warn others. STAY AWAY!!! When I first arrived and asked for a table of 2 the guy at the host stand looked at us and told us bluntly that it'd be a 30-minute wait. No problem I thought. We put ourselves on the waitlist, turned on our ringer, and walked back to our car to wait. We waited in the parking lot in my car for about 15 minutes till we got a call. As soon as we picked up the phone call however we were stuck on connecting due to the poor service out in the parking lot. Because of this, we decided to just walk back to the host stand and let them know that we had received a phone call from their restaurant. This took about a MINUTE. When we arrived at the host stand we informed the same guy who had taken our name down that we had received a phone call from them. To which we were told that he had called us TWICE, and since we didn't answer he had given our table away. Then immediately left to go seat another group of people. Leaving us standing there dumbfounded we waited for a minute until a woman had come up to us and asked if we were waiting to which he had informed her on what the other guy had told us. She said that he got it wrong, he didn't give up our table, and that he mixed up our name with someone else (which did not even remotely look or sound like the name we gave)

When we were seated we were greeted by the waiter right away and he asked for our drinks and what we could get started with. We had asked for a minute to look at the menu since we had just sat down and were still in shock from earlier. I DIDN'T THINK THAT MEANT 15+ PLUS MINUTES. Where multiple tables were open and we could see him standing at the bar doing NOTHING. Once he finally came up we put in our order and the food came out pretty quickly afterward. The food was ok. What would have been nice though was if the waiter came out and checked on us once but no. He didn't. After I finished my drink I sat there with an empty cup for the entire meal. Not ONCE did he even pass by where I could ask for a refill. Once I flagged down the waiter I had had enough and just asked for the check. I had paid on one of the devices to which I was left with the option of 18% 20% 22% and 25% tip and then the custom tip and no tip. The waiter held the device the entire time watching while I chose the gratuity. I ended up choosing a gratuity that didn't reflect the service AT ALL.

This was an awful experience. Subpar food and truly awful service are what you can get here. But hey at least you get a nice view. But to me, that doesn't make up for the lack of hospitality and mediocre food. I was so fueled to write this review that I'm using my girlfriend's...

🌟 Michelin-Star Experience on the Water — Dirty Taco + Tequila, Port Washington 🌟

Stepping into Dirty Taco + Tequila felt like stumbling upon a hidden culinary gem carved into the dockside soul of Port Washington. It’s rare to find a spot that marries street-style authenticity with coastal elegance, but this place nails it — and then some.

We arrived just before sunset, and the energy was already electric. Boats were docked right beside the restaurant, the air smelled of lime, spice, and sea breeze, and we took our seats with a perfect waterfront view. But it wasn’t the scenery that stole the show — it was the food.

I ordered the steak burrito, and to call it “good” would be a disservice. This was a burrito crafted with intention — a warm, toasted tortilla cocooned around perfectly seared steak, molten queso, fresh pico de gallo, creamy guac, and a flavor profile that could rival fine dining establishments. Each bite was rich, balanced, and deeply satisfying. The texture? Dreamy. The flavor? Magical. Like biting into something your future self would travel back in time just to experience again.

My girlfriend ordered the Dirty Tacos, and if you’re into handheld heaven, these are a must. Crunchy, cheesy, tender, and stacked with flavor — all built on a bed of crisp lettuce that made every bite sing with contrast. The tacos had a boldness that didn’t overwhelm — instead, it danced.

Service was friendly and genuine, the vibe effortlessly cool, and the presentation? Spot-on. There’s something beautifully indulgent about sitting on the edge of a dock, boats bobbing nearby, while eating food that feels like it belongs on a tasting menu.

Whether you’re pulling up by boat or strolling in from town, Dirty Taco + Tequila isn’t just a meal — it’s an experience. One I’d come back for in a heartbeat.

5 stars. 2 forks up. Would trade my left shoe to eat that...

I went to Dirty Taco & Tequila in Port Washington to hear a friend's band. Since there was an hour wait for a table the owner, Tom, offered to seat us at an outdoor counter-style section over the marina and we gladly accepted. The innovative cocktail menu had sweet for my friend and spicy for me...I went with the Spicy Ginger Craft Margarita and she got the Strawberry Kiwi Craft Margarita. The menu is vast, with spicy items clearly marked (but our waiter, Justin, still made sure to mention and ask if I was OK with spicy when I ordered), and with both the cash and credit card prices clearly marked for each item. We shared an order of Sweet Thai Chili chicken wings and the Dirty Nachos. I then ordered one Pork Carnitas Street Taco and one Mango Salmon Street Taco from the special menu; my friend got one Vietnamese Shrimp Street Taco and the Ceviche from the special menu. We loved that the tacos are ordered individually so that we could mix and match; the order of Ceviche was huge and she packed it to go (said her eyes were bigger than her stomach). Even though the place was extremely busy inside and out, the food and drinks came out quickly...and Tom (the owner) was checking to make sure the customers were happy (he came by more than once). Justin was a great waiter and was quick to bring out extra napkins, straws, utensils when we asked even though he was obviously extremely busy. It's not fine dining...but you don't go expecting it to be. After we ate, we walked over to the outdoor bar section where the band was playing and joined the other customers singing and dancing. It's a cool place with a fun vibe and something for everyone on the menu, reasonably priced (and no extra charge for the waterfront views or live music), with attentive service and an owner who is working hard to make...